COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA (March 4, 2019) – The South Carolina Education Lottery Commission (Commission) is pleased to announce that the winner of the $1.5 billion Jackpot from the October 23, 2018, Mega Millions drawing has come forward and submitted a claim for the underlying prize. As allowed by South Carolina law, the winner has elected to remain anonymous and has chosen the cash option of a one-time payment of $877,784,124. This is the largest jackpot payout to a single winner in United States history.

The winner marvels at how every decision made that day brought the winner to the store, at that very moment, to make the Quick Pick Mega Millions lottery ticket purchase. The winner even allowed a fellow customer to make a Mega Millions lottery ticket purchase in front of the winner while in line at the store. A simple act of kindness led to an amazing outcome.

Hogan Brown, the Commission’s Executive Director, stated, “We are delighted that the winner is a South Carolinian and has come forward to claim this remarkable prize. We offer sincere congratulations and are very happy that one of our South Carolina retailers, KC Mart in Simpsonville, will receive $50,000 for selling the claimed winning ticket. The State of South Carolina will benefit from $61 million that will be collected in income taxes from the winner. We respect the winner’s decision to remain anonymous, and we will honor the winner’s wishes.”

The winner has retained Jason Kurland of Rivkin Radler of New York to provide legal representation and to act as spokesperson. After the payment process is complete, a news conference will be scheduled at the Commission’s Draw Studio located at 1333 Main Street in Columbia, South Carolina. Further details will be issued next week.

Since the inception of the Lottery on January 7, 2002, the General Assembly has appropriated from the Education Lottery Account more than $5.4 billion through Fiscal Year 2018-2019. Lottery funds have been used to support higher education programs and scholarships, K-12 programs and other community education programs.

Due to the volume of anticipated media inquiries, we request all inquiries be submitted to: mediainquiries@sclot.com.